Amid the outbreak, Delhi has shut down it’s schools, colleges and cinema halls, while offices across the country are asking employees to work from home.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and PM Narendra Modi, has asked people to avoid mass public gatherings amid apprehensions of an epidemic. Primary schools in Delhi will remain shut till 31 March.

The World Health Organisation in a report said that the illness and severity of the disease has to do with age. It has also declared it an epidemic.

As many of us panic about what the disease exactly is, and how to manage it, here’s all that you need to know.

What is a coronavirus?

According to the WHO “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.”

What are the symptoms?

— fever

— cough

— shortness of breath

— breathing difficulties

Symptoms in severe cases

— pneumonia

—severe acute respiratory syndrome

— kidney failure

Here’s a good video on prevention:

While this is some basic information on coronvirus, here are some more articles that could answer some of your questions: